CARAVAGGIO

SEPTEMBER 29, 1571 - JULY 18, 1610

Caravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi, was an Italian Baroque painter whose dramatic use of light, intense realism, and emotional depth transformed art in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Born in Milan, he moved to Rome as a young man, where his bold style quickly gained attention. Caravaggio's works often depicted religious subjects with a raw intensity that shocked viewers, showing holy figures with gritty realism rather than idealized beauty. His dramatic lighting, known as chiaroscuro, created sharp contrasts between light and shadow, adding psychological depth and a sense of immediacy to his paintings. His most famous works include The Calling of Saint Matthew (1599-1600) and Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598–1599), where he depicted biblical stories with intense emotion and realism. Caravaggio's innovative approach inspired generations of artists and sparked the Baroque movement. However, his life was turbulent. Known for his temper and violent outbursts, Caravaggio was involved in several scandals, including a murder charge that forced him to flee Rome. Despite this, he continued to receive commissions, creating works for churches and wealthy patrons. Caravaggio died at the age of 38 under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a legacy of powerful, groundbreaking art that forever changed the course of Western painting.